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How to Unlock Pillars and Counters
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

How to Unlock Pillars and Counters

Learn how to unlock Pillars and Counters in Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Happy Home Paradise DLC. Get tips on crafting and creative design ideas for your vacation homes!

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Learn how to unlock Pillars and Counters in Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Happy Home Paradise DLC. Get tips on crafting and creative design ideas for your vacation homes!

Hey there! So you're looking to add some extra flair to your vacation home designs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Pillars and Counters are super useful, and I'll walk you through exactly how to get them. It's tied to your progress in the Happy Home Paradise DLC, so let's dive in!

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    First things first, you need to complete your **15th Vacation Home**. Once that's done and dusted, Lottie will tell you to go upstairs and chat with Niko. You'll find him hanging out near a DIY table. He'll want to pick your brain about all the DIY knowledge you've gathered.
  2. 2
    After your chat with Niko, you'll need to be a little patient. The actual lesson where you learn about Pillars and Counters happens the *next day*.
  3. 3
    The following day, head over to the school. Niko will be there to teach you all about these new decorative items.

Niko's Lesson Breakdown:

  • Pillars: These are fantastic for creating defined edges when you're using partition walls. Think of them as the neat finishing touch!
  • Counters: You get two types: tall and low. They're great for dividing up rooms without the commitment of a full partition wall, giving you more flexibility.

Crafting Materials:

While you have unlimited access to Pillars and Counters while designing vacation homes, you'll need to craft them if you want to use them on your own island or in your personal home. Here's what you'll need:

  • Wooden Pillar: Requires x2 Softwood, x2 Hardwood, and x2 Wood.
  • Low Island Counter: Requires x2 Softwood, x2 Hardwood, and x2 Wood.
  • Tall Wooden Island Counter: Requires x3 Softwood, x3 Hardwood, and x3 Wood.

Tips & Design Ideas:

  • Neat Edges: The most straightforward use for pillars is to place them at the end of a partition wall to make it look super clean and intentional.
  • Freestanding Decor: Don't be afraid to use pillars on their own as decorative elements! They can add a nice architectural touch to any room.
  • Makeshift Partitions: Combine pillars with other items like bamboo partitions, plant partitions, or even island counters placed between them. This creates unique partition styles that can really elevate your design.
  • Dimension for Accent Walls: Pillars are amazing for adding depth and interest to accent walls.
  • Creating Fake Windows: This is a super popular trick! Choose a landscape wallpaper for your accent wall. Then, create partition walls and place them flush against the back wall, leaving a gap to show off your accent wall. Frame this gap with pillars on either side. For an even cooler effect, if you've unlocked the glow-in-the-dark stickers, you can customize the pillars to look like window panes! You can even make transparent patterns with borders to mimic glass.
  • Counter Uses: Counters work great as room dividers or can be used with the

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